Hike the Lewis Pass Tops Route

Maruia, New Zealand

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Details

Distance

5.6 miles

Elevation Gain

2624.7 ft

Route Type

Out-and-Back

Description

Added by Tobin Akehurst

This hike starts at the height on Lewis Pass. It quickly climbs above the tree line and at the end of the maintained trail you follow a beautiful ridge walk to a high alpine basin. At the end of the route there are three mountains to climb and plenty of spots to set up camp.

Park at the well marked Saint James Walkway Car Park. You will find the Lewis Pass Tops Trail Head across the street. The trail begins by climbing steeply through beech forest and then breaks through the tree line before arriving at the ridge crest. The maintained trail ends here but the route is fairly easy to follow. Continue following the ridge crest past several ponds for a few kilometers.

Once you reach the end of the ridge crest look to hikers left for a cairned route through the bluffs, down into the basin between Mt. Technical and The Apprentice. The basin offers opportunities for continued exploration or camping. An ascent of the Apprentice or Lucretia is a fairly straightforward hike depending on route finding. Mt. Technical's west ridge is an exposed, difficult scramble.

Return the way you came.

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Features

Rock Climbing

Photography

Backpacking

Hiking

Easy Parking

Forest

Lake

River

Romantic

Scenic

Wildflowers

Wildlife

Swimming Hole

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